Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox National Political Convention The 1996 Democratic National Convention was held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1996. President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore were nominated for reelection. It was the first national convention of either party to be held in Chicago since the riots of the 1968 Democratic convention, and until 2024, was the most recent presidential convention held in the city by either major party.
Site selectionEdit
Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, and San Antonio were originally considered as possible host cities. Los Angeles withdrew its bid after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.<ref name="halts"/> Kansas City would also withdraw.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On August 4, 1994, it was announced that Chicago had beaten out the other finalist, San Antonio, for the right to host the convention.<ref name="allpoltitics1">Template:Cite news</ref> This would mark the first time that Chicago hosted a major presidential year political convention since the violent 1968 Democratic National Convention, and the first time a political convention was held in the United Center, which had been recently completed.<ref name="CNN1996">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the bidding for the convention, Chicago was seen as a frontrunner. One dynamic in Chicago's favor was that chairman of the Democratic National Committee David Wilhelm had strong connections to the city.<ref name="Fitzpatrick1"/><ref name="CSTSweet1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Also seen as helpful to Chicago's odds was the goodwill that Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley had earned with President Clinton by helping to lobby Chicago-area congressmen to support the North American Free Trade Agreement.<ref name="Fitzpatrick1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The fact that First Lady Hillary Clinton was raised in the Chicago suburbs was seen as helpful. Bill Clinton's close relationship with Mayor Daley's brother William M. Daley and Clinton's appreciation of Mayor Daley's endorsement of him during the 1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries were also seen as aiding Chicago's chances.<ref name="CSTSweet1"/> Additionally, heading into 1996, Illinois was projected to be a key "battleground state".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Of the bid cities, Chicago's proposed the largest funding package, proposing that its host committee would raise $32 million for the convention.<ref name="CSTSweet1"/>
This was the 25th major party convention to be held in Chicago.<ref name="CNN1996"/> Chicago has held more major party conventions than any other city.<ref name="CNN1996"/><ref name=whyconventionsnolongercome>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
BidsEdit
| City | Venue | Previous major party conventions hosted by city |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, Illinois | United Center | Democratic: 1864, 1884, 1892, 1896, 1932, 1940, 1944, 1952, 1956, 1968 Republican: 1860, 1868, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1952, 1960 |
| New York City, New York<ref name="allpoltitics1"/> | Madison Square Garden | Democratic: 1868, 1924, 1976, 1980, 1992 |
| New Orleans, Louisiana<ref name="allpoltitics1"/> | Louisiana Superdome | Republican: 1988 |
| San Antonio, Texas | Alamodome<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> || Template:N/A |
| Kansas City, Missouri (withdrew bid) | Democratic: 1900 Republican: 1928, 1976 | |
| Los Angeles, California (withdrew bid) | Los Angeles Convention Center<ref name="halts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> || Democratic: 1960 |
Preparations and logisticsEdit
Ahead of the convention, in order to project a positive image of the city, Mayor Daley dedicated a large amount funding towards planting new trees and decorative potted flowers throughout the West Loop area in which the convention would be held as well as in the city's downtown.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The convention came at a time where changes and beautification were underway in the West Loop, including the repaving of roads, the addition of decorative planters, and the installation of ornate street lamps. The Madison Street overpass above the Kennedy Expressway was decorated with red white and blue stars. Greektown underwent a streetscape enhancement project. In the weeks ahead of the convention, a demolition project on five buildings of the Henry Horner Homes near the venue was completed. City officials claime that the timing of some of the enhancements to the West Loop was coincidental.<ref name="lasttouches">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Temporary decorations were also added, including stickers advertising the convention on 2,000 street signs.<ref name="lasttouches"/>
A temporary convention-oriented bus route was established between the United Center and locations in The Loop.<ref name="lasttouches"/> Events related to the convention were held in venues throughout Chicago in order to showcase the city.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hundreds of events related to the convention were held.<ref name="lasttouches"/>
The convention introduced a new style four-screen speech prompting system for speakers consisting of two glass teleprompters, accompanied by an inset lectern monitor, and for the first time, a large under-camera confidence monitor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Notable speakersEdit
The convention's keynote speaker was Governor Evan Bayh of Indiana. The nomination speech was given by Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. Other notable speakers included former New York governor Mario Cuomo, First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton, actor Christopher Reeve, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, and other Senators Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and John Kerry and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.Template:Citation needed
With Clinton's wife, Hillary, speaking at the Democratic convention, and his opponent Bob Dole's wife Elizabeth Dole having spoken at the Republican convention, 1996 became the year in which it became established practice that both major party candidates spouses speak at their party's convention.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Clinton's renomination speechEdit
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Clinton's speech on August 29 included his vision for the next decade, included tax cuts for the middle-class, 20 million more jobs, a strong defense with cuts in the military, but a strong presence of peacemaking troops, new military weapons and tanks, welfare reform goals for states and communities, and a peaceful transition for the Middle East.Template:Citation needed
Refusal of delegates to Lyndon LaRoucheEdit
Lyndon LaRouche had run for president through multiple parties over multiple election cycles. In 1996, he ran for the nomination of the Democratic party, despite the Chair of the Democratic National Party ruling that Lyndon LaRouche "is not to be considered a qualified candidate for nomination of the Democratic Party for President" before the primaries began. In subsequent primaries LaRouche received enough votes in Louisiana and Virginia to get one delegate from each state. When the state parties refused to award the delegates, LaRouche sued in federal court, claiming a violation of the Voting Rights Act. After losing in the district court, the case was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which sustained the lower court.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
VotingEdit
Clinton was nominated unanimously for a second term and Vice President Al Gore by voice vote.
The Balloting:
| Candidates | File:Bill Clinton.jpg |
|---|---|
| Name | William J. Clinton |
| Certified Votes | 4,277 (99.72%) |
| Abstentions | 12 (0.28%) |
| total: | 4,337 |
Clinton and Gore went on to defeat Bob Dole and Jack Kemp in the November general election in an Electoral College landslide with a substantial popular vote margin.
Notable eventsEdit
On August 28, Civil Rights Movement historian Randy Kryn and 10 others were arrested by the Federal Protective Service while doing a demonstration.<ref> Template:Citation</ref>
In the middle of the convention, many of the delegates danced to the song "Macarena". Al Gore famously danced to the song while standing still.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The original Broadway cast of Rent performed "Seasons of Love" at the end of the convention.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Taste of Chicago, a group of restaurants who have an annual street festival, catered the press area.Template:Citation needed
ReceptionEdit
Chicago's performance as a convention host city was regarded to have been successful.<ref name="CSTSweet1"/>
See alsoEdit
- 1996 Republican National Convention
- Bill Clinton 1996 presidential campaign
- 1996 Democratic Party presidential primaries
- 1996 United States presidential election
- History of the United States Democratic Party
- List of Democratic National Conventions
- United States presidential nominating convention
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:YouTube
- Democratic Party Platform of 1996 at The American Presidency Project
- Clinton Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at DNC (transcript) at The American Presidency Project
- Video of Clinton nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC (via YouTube)
- Audio of Clinton nomination acceptance speech for President at DNCTemplate:Dead link
- Video of Gore nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC (via YouTube)
- Audio of Gore nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNCTemplate:Dead link
- Transcript of Gore nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC Template:Webarchive
- Video of Evan Bayh's Keynote Address at Democratic National Convention
| Preceded by {{#if:1992 New York, New York|1992 New York, New York|—}} |
Democratic National Conventions{{#if:| {{{curr}}}}} |
Succeeded by {{#if:2000 Los Angeles, California|2000 Los Angeles, California|—}} |
Template:Democratic National Convention Template:Bill Clinton Template:Al Gore Template:Near West Side, Chicago Template:Authority control